Judge hearing case of Notre Dame pro-life protestors recuses herself
I’ve written before about the plight of pro-life protestors who were arrested by the University of Notre Dame leading up to Barack Obama’s commencement speech there last year.
I thought it especially ironic that, despite all the words from ND’s president Fr. John Jenkins about “understanding” and “working together”, Notre Dame has been completely without mercy when it comes to prosecuting those who were arrested simply for holding pro-life signs and images on the campus.
One thing that especially annoyed me was that fact that the Judge hearing the case of the “Notre Dame 88″ is married to a high-profile pro-abortion professor at the University – a clear conflict of interest which has been finally righted, but only after constant appeal by the attornys working on behalf of the accused:
The judge in the case concerning the pro-life protesters arrested on the campus of Notre Dame University expressing their opposition to the Catholic college giving an award to pro-abortion President Barack Obama has recused herself after an appeal was filed suggesting a conflict of interest.
Judge Jenny Pitts Manier, assigned to the ND88 case, is married to pro-abortion Notre Dame professor Edward Manier.
Attorney Tom Dixon, who is representing the dozens of pro-life advocates involved, filed two motions asking Judge Manier to step down.
His claim of bias was based on the judge’s prior rulings in abortion protest litigation, her husband’s outspoken criticism of Catholic pro-life teachings while serving as a tenured philosophy professor at Notre Dame, and other factors.
When she refused, Dixon and other Thomas More Society attorneys filed papers in Indianapolis with the Appellate Court to secure a ruling that Judge Manier should be required to step down from hearing the case.
Now, Judge Manier has recused herself just days after those papers were filed. (Life News)
It’s about time.
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4 Comments
Good news at last!! It is hard to believe this Judge, in the name of fairness, would not have recused herself of her own accord but at least the path to justice for these people has commenced…and hopefully will end in the release of all these victims of Notre Dame ’s lack of Christian charity and recognition of fair-play!
What’s equally disturbing is that her husband is a tenured professor at a “Catholic” university. He has no business teaching there. But, surely he’s not the only professor at ND with anti-Catholic views. ND has completely lost its way and its soul. What a disgrace that Fr. Jenkins insists on prosecuting these pro-life demonstrators. That tells us all we need to know.
It would be nice if Jenkins had resigned and ND had actually returned to its Catholic purpose. It would be nice if the USCCB had forced Jenkins to resign or remove Catholic identity. The fact that this is still in court says everything anyone needs to know about the University and its leadership today. I totally enjoyed the ND football season this year… Mary was obviously not impressed with Barry Obama coming under her watch. You cannot be a Democrat and a Catholic or support a politician who is pro choice.
I would be nice if NDResponse apologized for fingering these protesters.
Caption of the Day/PPOTD
